The holidays are approaching and campus organizations are spreading holiday cheer to the less fortunate.

University Transportation and Parking Services is assembling boxes for its annual holiday food drive.

“Last year we raised 7,684 pounds of food for the 2003 state employee food drive,” Assistant Manager Suzanne Bracamonte said. “That was 1,639 pounds more than the previous year.”

The drive is collecting canned and boxed food that will be donated to Foodlink, a California-based organization that delivers more than 70 million pounds of food annually.

Phi Sigma Sigma, a campus sorority, is making sure homeless people stay warm this winter.

Sweaters, coats, hats, gloves, scarves, socks, shoes, blankets and pillows can be donated in the Winter Warmth Drive box, displayed on the first floor of the University Union under the staircase outside the food court.

The Human Resources Management Association is hoping to bring the troops a little something special.

The group is collecting DVDs for the troops.

“The troops have been over there a long time,” President Blake Patton said. “I think we need to help them out.”

Donation boxes for the DVD drive are located in the Student Activities Office on the second floor of the Union, and in the organizational behavior department in Tahoe Hall.

Athletes can participate in A Race to Feed the Hungry on Thanksgiving Day at 7:30 a.m.

The event, organized by Sacramento Food Bank Services and divided in different age groups, has 5K and 10K courses beginning at Sacramento State and extending towards the downtown area.

There is a pre-registration fee of $25 for this event, and there are a limited number of complimentary entries for elite athletes who have run a certified 10K under 30:30 for men and 35:00 for women in the past year.

There will be awards and prize money for the top three winners in each age group.